2021 Henschke Cyril Henschke Cabernet Sauvignon

Named in honour of fourth-generation winemaker Cyril Henschke (1924–1979), this Eden Valley Cabernet Sauvignon pays tribute to one of Australia’s most visionary pioneers of varietal and single-vineyard wines. First bottled in 1978, it comes from vines Cyril planted in the late 1960s—Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot on a north-facing slope—now farmed with organic and biodynamic practices. Renowned for its texture, depth, and fine-grained tannins, this wine represents the enduring legacy of the Henschke family and their dedication to quality and place.
The 2021 season in Eden Valley will be remembered as one of the standout vintages of the decade. Following a cool, wet winter and an even budburst, conditions shifted through spring and summer with intermittent heat and strong winds, yet the vineyards remained healthy and disease free. A burst of rain at veraison set the stage for an extended, mild ripening period, with the coolest summer in nearly 20 years giving way to a warm and even autumn. The result is Cabernet Sauvignon of superb balance, varietal purity and depth, echoing the legendary vintages of 1986, 2002, 2005 and 2015. Matured for 18 months in French and American oak hogsheads, the 2021 release delivers outstanding colour, flavour intensity and fine-grained tannins, built for long-term cellaring.
Alc. 14.5%

Other Reviews....
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Cyril Henschke is an exquisite and refined Eden Valley style. It's energetic and youthful as it delivers a core of subtle dried mint and pine needle aromas, with pristine leafy red currants providing strong support. There is a claret-like tension thanks to firm acidity and chalky tannins, which are superbly balanced. A herbal phenolic twist adds bite to the finish. The 2021 is a serious Cabernet that needs time to shine. Drink 2032 - 2045.
95 Points
Angus Hughson - Antonio Galloni's Vinous

A blend of organic/biodynamically farmed 99/1% cabernet sauvignon/merlot from the Cyril Henschke vineyard in the Eden Valley from the outstanding 2021 vintage. A beautiful bright magenta/crimson in the glass with a pretty, lifted aromatic profile. Plum, blackberry and blackcurrant with notes of sage, bay leaf, dried herbs, violets and crushed stone. Fruit pure and detailed with a very long, graceful finish and superfine, powdery, granitic tannins. A wonderful release for the Cyril Henschke. Drink 2024-2048.
96 Points
Dave Brookes - Halliday's Australian Wine Companion

Savory and earth-driven aromas of blackcurrants, thyme, plums, licorice and graphite. The palate is full-bodied with ultra-fine tannins and bright acidity, giving notes of mulberries, dried herbs, dark cherries and spices. Extremely complex, elegant and refined, with tightly integrated tannins that will evolve gracefully over the coming decades. Excellent. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
96 Points
JamesSuckling.com

The 2021 Cyril Henschke Cabernet Sauvignon hails from a block planted in the 1960s and the 1980s. The vineyard is planted east-west, with vertical shoot positioned trellising, and the straw mulch underneath the vines assists in bringing out the most expression possible. Fermentation involves very gentle cap management to withdraw gentle tannins from the wine. It matured for 18 months in French oak. The nose leads with violets and crushed rocks, dried herbs and ancient, dusty earth. With 1% Merlot, this is essentially a Cabernet Sauvignon wine. The wine takes me to the ancient gums and rocky outcrops of the Eden valley, a place I am incredibly fond of. This is the loveliest Cyril Henschke Cabernet Sauvignon I can recall—sleek and evocative. 14.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. Drink 2025 - 2041.
95 Points
Erin Larkin - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

“The Cyril Henschke Cabernet Sauvignon was first produced as a single-vineyard wine in 1978, originally from vines planted by Cyril in 1969. Since the early 1990s the fruit has come from Stephen and Prue’s 1988 planting of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and cabernet franc in the same vineyard.”
True cabernet. I love how herbal this is and yet how fruit full. I love how structured it is and yet how fragrant and generous. It’s awash with boysenberry, redcurrant and blackcurrant, with soy and violet notes thrown in, but it’s the toss of aromatic herb, briar and tobacco notes that really help to spread the wine’s wings. Length of flavour here is excellent if not exceptional. Character is writ large, in a pure sense. You’d expect this wine to cellar magnificently but it’s not hard to enjoy right now.
96 Points
Campbell Mattinson - The Wine Front

Cabernet from this special site, ‘the grey sandy loam seems to produce cabernet without greener characters, more fruit perhaps, and seems to suit it well’, says Prue Henschke. ‘A velvety tannin rather than astringency possible from cabernet’, offers Stephen Henshcke, ‘in this vintage you’ll see only 1% of merlot to add any more complex to it! The cabernet was near complete on arrival’.
Beautiful, fragrant perfume of red plum, cassis, white pepper, sage leaf, sweet tobacco and clove with a touch of undergrowth and alpine herbs. Supple in the palate, medium weight, velvety but with a bright undercurrent of sage leaf and pepper. It’s so well balanced, even and flows beautifully with soft tannins though they lend shape and freshness attractively. Glorious harmony and drinkability. Drink 2029-2040+
96 Points
Mike Bennie - The Wine Front

The Cyril Henschke Cabernet is always a long, slow journey to a beguiling complexity. It can’t be rushed. Hence, while the 2021 is from an acknowledged exceptional vintage in the Eden Valley, a caveat must be applied to its drinking window. If you can wait, do so. Interestingly, just 1% Merlot has been added this vintage – 1%! You have to admire the bravery. That 1% must bring something, maybe an added lifted floral note, to the whole? A classic Cyril style, quiet to the point of being unassuming in its youth in scents of violet, iris, dried herbs, cassis and intense blackberry with a leafy bramble note. Once again, it is generous in ripe fruits but nicely underplayed, no use giving away everything too soon, and this vintage sees a tad less new French oak in play (8%). It offers depth on the palate, a rich core of black fruit intensity lifted in lovely spice and effortlessly dressed in fine tannins. It’s still very much in building mode. It will thank you for not twisting open the screw cap too soon. Drink 2025-2045.
96 Points
Jeni Port - WinePilot.com